India records more rabies deaths than any other country, and almost all of them follow a dog bite that was not treated properly. Rabies is close to 100 percent fatal once symptoms appear, and close to 100 percent preventable before that. This guide covers the first ten minutes, which bites need injections, the schedule, and what it costs.
India's national guidelines sort exposures into three categories. The doctor decides the category, but it helps to know what they are looking for.
| Category | What happened | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| I | Touching or feeding the animal, or a lick on unbroken skin | Wash the area. No injections. |
| II | Nibbling of bare skin, or a minor scratch or abrasion without bleeding | Wound washing and the full anti-rabies vaccine course |
| III | Any bite or scratch that draws blood, multiple bites, a lick on broken skin, or saliva in the eyes, nose or mouth | Wound washing, the full vaccine course, and rabies immunoglobulin |
Most real dog bites are category III. If there is any blood, assume it is, and let the doctor decide otherwise.
Day 0 is the day of the first dose, which should be as soon as possible after the bite. Two schedules are in common use in India:
| Schedule | Doses | Where you usually see it |
|---|---|---|
| Intramuscular (in the arm) | Days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28 | Private hospitals and clinics |
| Intradermal (small doses into the skin, two sites) | Days 0, 3, 7 and 28 | Many government anti-rabies clinics, because it stretches vaccine supply |
Both work when completed. The mistake that matters is stopping after two or three doses because the wound healed. The wound healing tells you nothing about the virus.
Rabies immunoglobulin is a separate product for category III exposures. It is infiltrated into and around the wound, ideally on day 0, and gives protection in the days before the vaccine has had time to work. India also has monoclonal antibody products that do the same job. Not every hospital stocks immunoglobulin, so if you are told it is needed and it is unavailable, ask where the nearest centre with stock is.
If you were vaccinated before, with a complete course, the booster after a new bite is shorter, usually two doses, and immunoglobulin is not needed. Bring any old vaccination record.
| Item | Government hospital | Private hospital, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-rabies vaccine | Free under the national programme | ₹300 to ₹600 per dose |
| Full intramuscular course | Free | ₹1,500 to ₹3,000 plus consultation |
| Rabies immunoglobulin | Free where stocked | A few thousand rupees upward; the dose depends on body weight and the product used |
| Tetanus injection, if due | Free | Low cost |
Prices at private hospitals vary widely by city and by product. The government route is genuinely good here: the vaccine is the same, and the national programme exists specifically because rabies kills people who could not afford private care.
Tell the person to get treated regardless of your dog's status. Then find your dog's rabies vaccination certificate: this is exactly the moment people discover it is in a drawer somewhere or on a phone they replaced. Keep the dog at home and observable for ten days, and tell your vet. If your dog's rabies booster has lapsed, a minor nip can quickly become a municipal and legal problem. Our pet registration guide explains why the certificate matters, and the dog vaccination schedule covers when boosters are due.
Wash the wound with soap and running water for 15 minutes, apply an antiseptic if you have one, and go to a hospital the same day for anti-rabies treatment. Do not apply chilli, turmeric or pastes, and do not wait to see whether the dog gets sick.
Usually five intramuscular doses on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28, or four intradermal visits on days 0, 3, 7 and 28 at many government centres. Bites that draw blood also need rabies immunoglobulin on the first day. Complete the course even if the wound heals.
It is free at government hospitals under the national rabies programme. At private hospitals in 2026, each vaccine dose typically costs ₹300 to ₹600, so a full course is roughly ₹1,500 to ₹3,000 plus consultation. Rabies immunoglobulin, if needed, costs more and depends on body weight.
Yes, get assessed and start treatment. Vaccinated pets are much lower risk, but vaccination records can be out of date. If the dog stays healthy for ten days of observation, your doctor may decide to stop the course early.
A scratch that breaks the skin or draws blood can carry rabies if the dog's saliva was on its claws. Wash it the same way as a bite and get it assessed. A scratch without bleeding is usually category II and still needs the vaccine.
Ghav ko turant sabun aur behte paani se 15 minute tak dhoyein, phir usi din aspatal jaakar anti-rabies injection lagwayein. Sarkari aspatal mein yeh muft hai. Mirchi ya haldi na lagayein, aur injection ka poora course poora karein.
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